Fire Safety Engineering College

(Formerly Fire Safety Engineering College)

B.Sc. (Hons) Facilities Management

Introduction

Facilities Management is concerned with the responsibilities which relate to the design, construction and maintenance of buildings where people work. The range of such buildings is wide and includes familiar buildings such as offices, factories, schools, hospitals, airports and also more specialised facilities such as in oil drilling, refineries, process production plants, warehouses, depots and transportation systems. Facilities Management is also concerned with responsibilities relating to the provision of building services, the management of occupational health, safety and the environment and operational matters such as car parking, catering, security and internal communications and partnering.

The course emphasises facilities management in the context of the built environment and its application to buildings. However, facilities management in its widest sense is not just about maintenance and controlling costs. In order to support the core activities of the business, facilities management must ensure the smooth running of the non-core services through careful planning and management. These services may include: health and safety monitoring (incorporating fire safety); component specification; information and communication technology and software; building services and operational services. Operational services may include car parking, security, catering, welfare, crèche facilities, cleaning and waste disposal, energy efficiency and distribution, internal communications and partnering.

Figures released by Middle East Strategy Advisors (MESA) show that the facilities management market in the Gulf will be worth an estimated US$ 892 billion over the next 25 years. Facilities management, which advocates an integrated approach to managing the built environment effectively, is still an emerging concept in the Middle East, yet experts predict that the industry will eventually outstrip the region’s booming construction business.

Subjects covered in this four year programme are related to construction materials, construction technology, surveying and CAD, quantity surveying, management for health, safety and the environment, legal principles and contract law, accounting and finance and project management. The programme will also develop communication skills in English to enable effective operation in a managerial role where this written and oral language ability is required.

Students who exit the programme after successfully completing the first year will be awarded, by the University of Central Lancashire, a Certificate of Higher Education in Facilities Management, the second year a Diploma of Higher Education in Facilities Management, and the third year a Bachelor Degree* (equivalent to an “Advanced Diploma” in Facilities Management in Oman).

Programme Aims and Objectives

The level of education provided by the course is appropriate to those who will eventually hold senior positions within commerce, public service or industry. Throughout the course emphasis is placed on self-motivation, independent critical thinking, analytical depth and practical application. The aims of the course are:

To introduce students to the range of activities within the facilities management field, by providing a broad introduction to the disciplines and the specialist work they undertake
To provide students with a foundation in management, as it applies to the management of facilities, to equip students with the skills to enable them to pursue a career in facilities management.
To prepare the students for typical problems they will encounter in the design and provision of suitable working environments as applied to industrial, commercial or residential situations.
To enable graduates to provide solutions to complex facilities management problems which support the smooth running of core business activities.
To encourage in graduates a positive and critical attitude towards change and enterprise and to enable them to respond to change both within the organisation and in the external environment.
To enable the graduates to apply their knowledge, understanding and skills to realistic situations and particularly in the context of the GCC region.
To develop skills in communication, independent study, team working, problem solving, management and critical thinking which will equip graduates for the world of work and lifelong learning.

Programme Structure

The University of Central Lancashire uses a Modular Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (MODCATS) to enable students to accumulate modules by pursuing planned programmes of study leading to specified awards. The full time programme consists of 6 modules studied each year which are delivered as follows:


Year 1 at ICEM	Facilities Management 1 Health, Safety & Environment 1 Management 1 Maths and Science for Facilities Management Surveying and CAD Personal and Professional Development 1 Industrial Placement (Optional) (Needed for awards ‘… with Industrial Placement’) Exit Award: Certificate of Higher Education in Facilities Management

Year 2 at ICEM	Facilities Management 2 Health, Safety & Environment 2 Legal Studies Materials and Maintenance Management Construction Technology Personal and Professional Development 2 Exit Award: Diploma of Higher Education in Facilities Management

Year 3 at ICEM	Project Management Techniques Investment Analysis and Appraisal Construction Management and Contract Administration Quantity Surveying Practise Environmental Conservation in GCC Professional Development Projects *Exit Award: Bachelor Degree (equivalent to “Advanced Diploma” in Facilities Management in Oman)**

Year 4 at UCLAN	Facilities Management Building Maintenance Management Construction Law 3 Dissertation Professional Practice 3 (Option) Health and Safety Management (Option) Heritage Interpretation (Option) Building Conservation (Option) Target Award: B.Sc (Hons) Facilities Management

Industrial Placement

An optional work placement period with a host company in a facilities management related role allows students an opportunity to further apply and consolidate their knowledge. Successful completion of this period leads to a Certificate or Diploma of Higher Education that states ‘…..with Industrial Placement’.

Post Qualification Opportunities

Completion of the course allows graduates to enter the facilities management profession with excellent career prospects, and will also open up many other career options in other industry, commerce or public service. This course prepares graduates to enter organizations as Facilities Manager, HSE Officer, Assistant Project Manager, Assistant Construction Manager, Assistant Contract Manager and also enables them to continue to post graduate studies.

* Note on Equivalence of Qualifications

The College offers courses leading to qualifications from the British Affiliated University, University of Central Lancashire. British qualifications are generally recognized throughout the world but it is important to know the equivalence with your local qualifications. In particular, British universities often offer Bachelor Degrees (with Honours). The equivalence of the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) qualifications with the Oman Qualifications Framework is as follows:

Certificate of Higher Education (UCLan)	=	Certificate (Oman)
Diploma of Higher Education (UCLan)	=	Diploma (Oman)
Bachelor Degree (UCLan)	=	Advanced Diploma (Oman)
Bachelor Degree with Honours (UCLan)	=	Bachelor Degree (Oman)